INFLUENCE OF THE KYIV METROPOLITANATE ON THE ATTEMPTS AT CHURCH UNION IN THE EPARCHY OF MUKACHEVO IN THE TIMES OF HYPATIUS POCIEJ AND JOSEF VELIAMYN RUTSKY

Abstract

The study describes a prominent role of the Kyivan Metropolitanate led by Hypatius Pociej (1599-1613) and Josyf Veliamyn Rutsky (1613-1637) for the development of the Church unity idea in the Eparchy of Mukachevo. The author focuses in analyzing information about Mukachevo bishops' Sergij (1600 – c. 1619), Petronij (1623-1627), Ivan Hryhorovych (1627-1633) and Vasyl Tarasovych (1633–1651) conversance with the progress of the Church union in the Kyivan Metropolitanate. The paper examines a message about bishop's Sergij consecration in Rus’, that was, possibly, accomplished by Metropolitan Hypatius Pociej. The research gives an account of unionistic initiatives of the bishop of Peremyshl Athamasij Krupetskyj (1610–1652) in the monastery of Krasnyj Brid, which endured under the protectorship of the count John III Drughet in times of bishop Sergij. The study interprets both contacts of the Jesuits mission with this bishop and an affirmation about bishop's Petronij acquaintance with results of the Union of Brest during his living out of the Eparchy of Mukachevo. The author takes attention to an admission that Petronij conversed to Catholicism while he was in the Kyivan Metropolitanate after banishing from Mukachevo by Romanian prince Michael the Brave. The investigation explains data about bishop's Ivan Hryhorovych education in the Kyivan Metropolitanate (in Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Zamosc) and clarifies his contacts with Kyivan Metropolitan Josyf Veliamyn Rutsky. There is regard to the Mukachevo bishop's Vasyl Tarasovych close relations with Galicia. He was the first local hierarch, which officially converted to Catholicism, and he actively engaged Galician clergy for the popularization of the Church unity idea in his Diocese. The research clarifies that mentioned position of the bishop caused persecutions by the Protestant Prince George II Rakoczi. Volodymyr Moroz accepts the considered processes were manifestations of the Counter-Reformation or Catholic Reformation, while in the Eparchy of Mukachevo were actual strong influences of Protestant communities, Latin Church, and Kyivan Metropolitanate. The Kyivan Church then was already strengthened owing to reforms of the Metropolitan Josyf Veliamyn Rutsky, who became very active in enhancement eastern Catholic identity in Transcarpathia.